Bergamo-Virtus and Benetton-Montepaschi will be the semifinals of the U-19 italian final round championship, played in Bologna. The four teams beat their respective opponents in the quarterfinals, played yesterday. Let's check what happened in each contest.
-Montepaschi 80 Fortitudo 75: the main favorite for the title had problems, but finally took the ticket for the semifinals led by Nunzio Sabbatino ('92). The guard poured 22 points with a perfect 8/8 FG, adding 4 rebounds and 2 steals. Power-forward Antonio Iannuzzi ('91) also helped with 14 points, 8 boards and 5 steals. Youngster Matteo Chillo ('93) shined again for Fortitudo, but wasn't enough: 18 points with 6/9 FG and 6 rebounds.
-Virtus Bologna 66 Eurobasket Roma 57: local squad took a spot at semifinals after beating Eurobasket Roma in a good contest of center Filippo Baldi Rossi ('91), who finished with a double-double (15 points, 11 rebounds and 1 block). Forward Luca Fontecchio ('91) added 14 points and 9 boards even 6/16 twos. The best scorer of Eurobasket was Alessandro Cecchetti ('91) with 12 and 7 boards. No player of Roma made more that a 10 valoration.
-Benetton 96 Stella Azzurra 88: 2.24 center Samuel Deguara ('91) made another great performance leading Treviso team to semifinals. The prospect from Malta poured 21 points (7/10 FG), pulling down 10 rebounds and putting a couple of blocks. Alessandro Gentile ('92) nailed 23 for winners, but with 1/7 from downtown. At Stella Azzurra side guard Simone Colonnelli ('91) wasn't enough even he finished with 28 and 4/6 threes.
-Bergamo 66 Teramo 64: great result for Orobica, earning a place in semifinals after winning Teramo led by forward Marco Planezio ('91). The prospect scored 16 points with 7/17 FG, 5 rebounds and 3 steals. Forward Giovanni Laquintana ('91) poured 23 points with 7/15 FG in his best game of the tournament, but saying good bye to their chances. One of the best players of the competition, Achille Polonara ('91), wasn't enough either: 12 points, 20 rebounds, 4 steals and 3 blocks.
Photo: FIP (photo of Simone Tomassini, Bergamo)
